USDA names acting CIO

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The Agriculture Department has named Deputy Chief Information Officer Jerry Williams acting CIO following the resignation last week of CIO Dave Combs.

Williams has led department initiatives to support information technology security and financial management. Before joining USDA, he was acting CIO at the Small Business Administration. He also was chief of the Federal Financial Management Systems Branch at the Office of Management and Budget.

Combs’ retirement has led to other organizational changes, which Williams announced June 12.

Robert Suda, associate CIO for integration and operations, will be acting deputy CIO under Williams. Before joining USDA, Suda was assistant commissioner of the Office of IT Solutions within the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service.

Kathleen Rundle, currently associate CIO at the National Information Technology Center, will be acting associate CIO for integration and operations, focusing on integrating NITC, telecommunications and IT services within the CIO’s office.

Chris Niedermayer will remain associate CIO for information and technology management. He is responsible for capital planning, enterprise architecture, IT governance, strategic planning and departmentwide IT training. Lynn Allen will continue as associate CIO for cybersecurity, in which he is responsible for all IT and data security in the department.

Combs plans to retire June 30 and return to his home state of North Carolina.

“His work to improve information technology security and expand electronic government has enhanced USDA's service to our employees and stakeholders,” said USDA Secretary Mike Johanns in a statement last week.

The GAO director of information technology issues is leaving government after 16 years. On his way out the door, Dave Powner details how far govtech has come in the past two decades and flags the most critical issues he sees facing federal IT leaders.